Roberto Zanetti

Biography

Roberto Zanetti [06-07-1957, Colà di Lazise (VR)] Italy

He starts his musical career by playing blues, as a guitarist of small local groups. In 1991, he receives the diploma in Choral Conducing at the Conservatory E.F. Dall’Abaco of Verona, under the supervision of the Maestro Antonio Zanon, a discipline that allows him to learn, along with the piano technique, harmony and composition. At the same time he cultivates his interest in the Afro-American music and culture, by attending the “Scuola Civica Musicale” in Milan, under the guidance of Maestro Sante Palumbo, as well as seminars and specialized courses (Umbria Jazz, Barkley School of Boston “clinics”, Barry Harris workshops). All these activities were accompanied by a constant and continuous practice of jazz sound. Classical and jazz music have always been coexisting in his musical career, in turn allowing him to practice both as a conductor and as a leader of jazz ensembles. Fundamental in his artistic growth is his work as composer and arranger of both sacred music (isorithmic and polyphonic style) and jazz compositions. He also collaborates with many Italian jazz musicians, such as Angelo Peli, Valerio Abeni, Andrea Olivi, Lorenzo Conte, Bruno Marini, Mauro Ottolini, Luca Boscagin, Paolo Mappa and the American saxophonist Steve Potts. In 2006, he meets the bass player Luca Pisani and subsequently the drummer Massimo Chiarella, thus establishing with them a strong partnership that gave birth to a CD album (MY Monk, 2010, self-released), inspired by the musicians he considers as milestones in the area of jazz piano players, Duke Ellington and Telonius Monk. This work has been well received by the media and it is usually mentioned and played in specialized international radio programming. In 2013, the trio is back in the recording studio with the special participation of saxophonist P. Tonolo recording a new CD named "Minor Time", which is a collection of tunes all signed Roberto Zanetti, currently awaiting publication.

THEATER In 2011, in collaboration with the young actor and writer Nicolò Sordo, he realizes the opera theater called “the Zizzi’s howl”, based on jazz and beat literature. This experience is summarized in the short film “the Zizzi’s howl” directed from T. Passigato. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYweFztq9zY)

TEACHING He dedicate good part of his time to teach and spread African and American music, finding it fundamental for young musicians who wants to study modern music. One of his aims is to approach to jazz sound even audience not used to it. From 1987 is a teacher of piano, harmony and composition at “Scuola Civica Musicale “ of Verona.